Crest edges KM in overtime for girls' middle school crown

Published: Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 06:56 PM.

Championships don’t happen without someone paying the price for victory.

In the Tri-County Conference girls basketball title game Thursday, both contenders left it all on the floor. The host Crest Dragons completed an undefeated season with a 52-50 overtime triumph over county rival Kings Mountain, the 2012 champ.

The two sides – who only knew each other from a preseason scrimmage -- displayed a resiliency throughout the contest, one that featured seven lead changes and 70 total foul shots.

Crest (11-0) found itself staring at one of its biggest deficits of the season early on. Kings Mountain (10-3) solved the Dragons’ fullcourt pressure for several easy baskets by Tamia Ellis to seize a 13-4 lead after one quarter.

But Crest fought back as its press began to assert itself. The Dragons grabbed a lead at 14-13 with 1:23 left in the half on Emily White’s jumper. But Kelsey Farmer’s driving layup gave the Patriots a 15-14 edge going to the break.

The margin was never more than four points in the third period with Kings Mountain tying it at 24 on Chaya Hunter’s follow shot. That’s where it stood entering the final period.

Kings Mountain edged out to a 31-26 lead on a LeeAsia layup at the 4:31 mark but Crest finally inched ahead 40-39 on Mahogany Foster’s foul shot. The Patriots seemed in control when Jessica McClure dropped in two free throws with 16.8 seconds left in regulation. However, Crest rushed downcourt and White nailed a three-pointer from the left wing with 7.4 seconds to go for a 43-all score and overtime.

Championships don’t happen without someone paying the price for victory.

In the Tri-County Conference girls basketball title game Thursday, both contenders left it all on the floor. The host Crest Dragons completed an undefeated season with a 52-50 overtime triumph over county rival Kings Mountain, the 2012 champ.

The two sides – who only knew each other from a preseason scrimmage -- displayed a resiliency throughout the contest, one that featured seven lead changes and 70 total foul shots.

Crest (11-0) found itself staring at one of its biggest deficits of the season early on. Kings Mountain (10-3) solved the Dragons’ fullcourt pressure for several easy baskets by Tamia Ellis to seize a 13-4 lead after one quarter.

But Crest fought back as its press began to assert itself. The Dragons grabbed a lead at 14-13 with 1:23 left in the half on Emily White’s jumper. But Kelsey Farmer’s driving layup gave the Patriots a 15-14 edge going to the break.

The margin was never more than four points in the third period with Kings Mountain tying it at 24 on Chaya Hunter’s follow shot. That’s where it stood entering the final period.

Kings Mountain edged out to a 31-26 lead on a LeeAsia layup at the 4:31 mark but Crest finally inched ahead 40-39 on Mahogany Foster’s foul shot. The Patriots seemed in control when Jessica McClure dropped in two free throws with 16.8 seconds left in regulation. However, Crest rushed downcourt and White nailed a three-pointer from the left wing with 7.4 seconds to go for a 43-all score and overtime.

Kings Mountain went up in overtime on a layup by Rhodes, who topped the Patriots with 21 points, but Crest went ahead on another Haynes rebound basket with 1:15 showing to make it 49-47. It was tied once more at 49 before White’s short jumper with 33 seconds to play put the Dragons back in front, 51-49.

Rhodes sank one of two foul shots with 24.8 seconds to go cutting the lead to a single point. But when Kings Mountain missed two more free throw chances late, Haynes rebounded and then converted one of two at the line with 3.3 seconds to play for the 52-50 margin.

Haynes led Crest with 13 points with Foster supplying 13 and White 10.